New Delhi
oi-Swastika Sruti
Grief, Questions And Growing Frustration
As the investigation into the murder of Delhi University professor Deboshmita Paul continues, her family says they are still struggling to understand why she was targeted.
The family of murdered DU professor Deboshmita Paul is grieving and seeks answers, disputing media reports on finances and motives, while the investigation into her death continues with the accused reportedly using a fake identity.
In an exclusive conversation with Oneindia at their Delhi residence, Deboshmita’s family spoke about the pain of losing a loved one, their concerns about the ongoing investigation, and what they describe as misleading reports circulating in sections of the media.
Sitting with her elderly parents, who quietly prepared to have a meal that seemed more like a necessity than comfort, it was impossible to miss the grief in their eyes. They appeared exhausted, weighed down by tears and unanswered questions, searching for someone who could explain why their daughter had been taken from them.
The family has urged people not to believe unverified claims regarding their financial status, property holdings, or the possible motive behind the crime.
Deboshmita’s sister also expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from the investigators. “We came across reports in the media that the police had recovered Deboshmita’s mobile phone from the Burdwan house. But I got to know this from the media, not from the police,” she said.
When asked if they knew what weapon had been used in the murder, the family said they were informed on the very first day that it was allegedly a pestle – a small, heavy kitchen tool commonly used to crush ginger, garlic, and spices.
The family added that they have still not received the forensic report and are waiting for the authorities to share the findings.
Family Objects To Media Reports
Deboshmita’s sister strongly objected to what she called inaccurate and sensationalised media coverage of the case.
She said several reports had exaggerated the family’s financial condition and linked the murder to assumptions about valuable property ownership.
According to her, claims that the family possesses significant wealth are completely false.
“The media is writing all kinds of things about us and our family. Some reports claimed there was a lot of money and property involved. This is not true at all. We are a very middle-class family,” she said.
She added that such reports only create fear and anxiety for the family and could even become a security concern.
“Please do not spread fake news. We are a very middle-class family. Such false reports frighten us and create a security risk,” she added.
Questions Over Property-Related Motive
The family also questioned reports suggesting that a property in Burdwan may have been the motive behind the murder.
Deboshmita’s sister pointed out that the property repeatedly mentioned in media reports is not even registered in the victim’s name. According to the family, it belongs to Deboshmita’s mother.
They further stated that reports claiming the property is worth crores of rupees are inaccurate.
“If someone believed the property was in her name, why would they think that? The property belongs to our mother. Also, reports about its huge value are not correct,” the family said.
CCTV Footage Shown To Family
The victim’s sister confirmed that police officials had shown the family CCTV footage related to the case.
Speaking about the visuals, Deboshmita’s father recalled that the accused woman was initially difficult to recognise because she was dressed differently from how the family had usually seen her.
“The accused’s wife usually wore a saree, but that day she was wearing a suit. Initially, we couldn’t recognise her in the CCTV footage,” he said.
However, according to the family, Deboshmita’s mother recognised the accused couple’s 13-year-old child in the footage, which helped them identify those who had visited the house.
Victim’s Father Raises Serious Questions
Even as the police investigation progresses, Deboshmita’s father says several questions continue to trouble him. One of his biggest concerns is how the accused allegedly obtained the address of the Satyam Apartment where Deboshmita was staying.
He suspects that someone connected to the apartment may have informed them that his daughter had returned home.
“I feel there must have been an insider who told them that Deboshmita had come home. They came with a proper plan. They had never discussed buying or taking any property from us before,” he said.
He further recalled that when police had earlier visited the accused in connection with the investigation, they had behaved normally and answered questions politely.
“When the police first went to their house, they spoke very normally and answered all the questions. Nobody would have suspected anything,” he added.
Family Believes The Attack May Have Been Planned
Deboshmita’s sister believes the possibility of pre-planning cannot be ruled out.
She suspects the accused may have switched off Deboshmita’s phone after entering the house.
According to her, Deboshmita may have been trying to call her family members to inform them that the visitors had arrived, but the phone suddenly became unreachable.
“Perhaps they had planned everything in advance. Maybe Didi was trying to call us to tell us they had come home, but they switched off her phone after entering the house. Maybe that was when they attacked her,” she said.
Deboshmita Had No Known Enemies
The victim’s father described Deboshmita as a kind, gentle and respected person who maintained good relationships with everyone around her.
According to him, she had no known enemies, either in her personal life or within Delhi University.
He also recalled how fond she was of the accused couple’s young son.
“She used to praise the boy often. She would say, ‘He speaks such pure Hindi. Even his parents don’t speak Hindi as beautifully as he does.’ She genuinely liked the child,” he said.
The memory has made the tragedy even more difficult for the grieving family to comprehend.
Fake Identity Adds Another Twist
The family also revealed that investigators initially kept asking them about a woman named Seema Chaudhary.
Later, they allegedly learned that “Seema Chaudhary” was the name used on a fake Aadhaar card linked to the accused woman, identified as Banashree. The revelation has added another layer of mystery to a case that already has many unanswered questions.
Motive Still Unknown
Despite multiple developments in the investigation, the motive behind the murder remains unclear. The family says police have not yet shared any detailed findings regarding why Deboshmita was killed.
According to them, investigators are currently avoiding in-depth discussions about the case while continuing their probe.
As authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the murder, Deboshmita Paul’s family continues to wait for answers. For now, they are left with grief, uncertainty, and a growing list of questions they hope the investigation will eventually answer.
